Frequently Asked Questions

Products: Quality and Safety

KIKO has always had a strong and unwavering commitment: to ensure the highest levels of quality, safety and efficiency for every single product and all ingredients used. This is why all KIKO products are developed in compliance with EU Directives and USA-FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations.

Not only this: KIKO is in a position to ensure the safety and efficacy of its own products through specific clinical tests, carried out in vitro or in vivo on samples from volunteers under medical control. KIKO formulas undergo various kinds of tests: – hypoallergenic, non-comedogenicity, ophthalmological, UVB and UVA SPF - depending on their intended use, in accordance with in-depth scientific protocols both in terms of the parameters measured and duration.

KIKO MILANO Press release. KIKO MILANO takes advantage of the latest findings in cosmetic research to offer high-quality products to women of all ages. All products undergo strict clinical safety tests in order to ensure formulas that are completely reliable and totally harmless. KIKO dedicates attention, care and commitment in order to provide its customers with the best in cosmetic innovation and the highest safety. KIKO products comply with all requirements set forth in European cosmetic regulations and, in compliance with EU Regulations no. 1223/2009, they do not contain heavy metals. Heavy metals are not allowed in any cosmetic product. Moreover, their presence can only be detected through specific analytical techniques, validated methods and suitable laboratory instruments. It is important that all women know that these materials cannot be detected with “homemade” methods, such as passing gold on lipsticks. For any analysis to be scientifically valid, samples must be sent to accredited external laboratories capable of performing these tests. KIKO products are tested, effective and safe.

Yes, all KIKO products are safe for women during pregnancy and post-pregnancy. We advise against the use of the body lines on the tummy and breast area: we recommend that you carefully follow the usage 'instructions and read the information listed inside the products.

In the event of intolerance or questions, we recommend you carefully read the list of ingredients presented with all KIKO products and request clarification and further information from your treating doctor.

The suffix "nano", added to certain ingredients, indicates that these raw materials have a molecular size from 1 to 100 nanometers (unit of measurement 1,000,000 times smaller than a millimeter). Regulation No. 1223/2009, which became effective in July 2013, requires the use of the suffix "nano".

Nanotechnologies are innovative systems for the treatment of raw materials, which give them different properties than those shown on a macroscopic scale. They make unique applications possible and improve product quality. Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are used in the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, mechanical and electrical fields. The nanomaterials approved by the European Commission for cosmetic use are safe.

KIKO MILANO strictly follows the requirements of Regulation 1223/2009 and subsequent amendments, keeping continuously up to date on the opinions of scientific committees such as the SCCS, Cosmetics Europe and the FDA.

KIKO is committed to ongoing research of the best products possible in terms of formula and packaging. Almost all of our formulas are MADE IN ITALY. Some products such as nail polish and liners are made in France and Germany, respectively, others in Japan (manicure items) and the United States, as indicated on the packaging by law.

All formulations from outside the EU undergo careful legislative assessment and clinical tests prior to being imported. To date, KIKO only uses Asian countries for the manufacture of some accessories, for which oriental production is more specialized. The quality of these products is controlled directly by KIKO.

An allergy is an inappropriate and damaging response by the body's defense mechanisms towards substances which are harmless to those who are not allergic. The full KIKO make-up line as well as the face and body skincare products are hypoallergenic, or formulated to ensure minimum instance of allergic reactions. However, if you have noticed sensitivity reactions in the past following the use of cosmetic products, you can carry out a test. Simply apply a coin-sized amount of the product (taking it from a tester) to the inside of your forearm and leave it on, ideally for a whole day. If the area becomes red or has any type of reaction, then the product probably contains a raw material that is not tolerated. If there is no reaction, then you can use the product confidently. In the event of any adverse reactions please inform us by contacting the Call Center or visiting your nearest KIKO store: the relevant information will be noted and passed to the Head Office. For more information, please see the section "KIKO quality".

To clear any doubts or queries regarding the ingredients used in a product, you can consult the Cosing website (http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/). Cosing is the official database of the European Commission, where all the ingredients allowed for cosmetic use are listed as per the EU Regulation no. 1223/2009.

Nickel is never used as an ingredient in the production of cosmetics, as it is banned in the EC; it does not appear in the list of ingredients in any of our products.

In regards to the comprehensiveness of our list of ingredients, it clearly follows legal guidelines, however, it is impossible to guarantee that the raw materials used do not contain tiny traces – which would be in the order of parts per million – of any unlisted substance, including nickel. Neither KIKO nor other cosmetics companies are therefore in a position to give a total guarantee of the absolute absence of this metal. Allergies to nickel do not only concern cosmetics but also the majority of foods commonly consumed (tomatoes, vegetables, fruit, chocolate…).

Subjects who are particularly sensitive should use product lines that are specifically designed for individuals with strong allergic reactions.

However, those who experience only a mild or temporary intolerance may, if interested in making a purchase, carry out a "patch test". You need only apply a coin-sized quantity of the product (from a tester) on the inside of your wrist. Ideally you should let a day pass; otherwise, sometimes 20–30 minutes may be sufficient. If the area appears to be red or presents any type of reaction, the product probably contains a raw material that is not tolerated. In the absence of any reaction, you can use the product with total peace of mind.

Parabens are some of the most widely-used preservatives in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industry. This is because they are extremely effective at helping products stay stable, preventing the texture from degrading or becoming contaminated over time.

These ingredients are studied and regulated; their usage has been accepted by the European Commission and the FDA in the USA. This means that parabens have been tested numerous times to make sure that they are totally safe. However, a small number of people are allergic to parabens. As with a lot of allergies, the number of people affected seems to be increasing. The cosmetics industry, and KIKO, is committed to developing alternative formulas that are just as effective without using parabens, so as to minimise later the risk of allergic reactions later on. All KIKO products are currently formulated without parabens.

Gluten is a combination of proteins found in wheat, barley, rue, spelt, kamut and other small grain cereals and therefore in their flour. In subjects who are severely affected by celiac disease, this renders all foodstuffs derived from these grains, or those containing gluten following contamination, toxic. This therefore concerns a chain reaction resulting from ingestion, which is not to be confused with a contact allergy.

Those who genuinely suffer from celiac disease are usually very well informed about ingredients which could contain gluten and completely eliminate it from their diet. It is considered that the risk of intolerance is limited to foodstuffs and almost nonexistent in cosmetics. Indeed, it has not been demonstrated that the transdermal absorption (through applying to the skin) of a cosmetic product containing traces of gluten could be harmful for those who suffer from celiac disease. Furthermore, the risk of ingestion, as regards cosmetics, is limited to lipsticks and toothpaste: you would have to actually "consume" the lipstick or lip gloss in question; simply passing the tongue over the lips is considered insignificant in all likelihood. As regards KIKO lipsticks, it is not possible to confirm whether or not they contain gluten. Some lipsticks or glosses could in fact contain traces or sources of gluten, but the quantity of the product that could be consumed would be minimal. No official study has been carried out or cosmetic regulation implemented to date in order to establish how "small" this quantity should be in order to avoid a reaction in subjects with celiac disease. This is why there are those among these subjects who prefer to avoid lip products which may contain gluten, although the general consensus is that this presents no danger. We therefore advise those who suffer from celiac disease to check the list of ingredients on our lip products, in order to be able to rule out – possibly with the help of your treating doctor – the presence of substances which may contain gluten. This type of solution is only relevant for lip products. As regards the other products in the Make Up and Skincare range, KIKO (as applies to the majority of other cosmetics companies) is not currently able to completely rule out the presence of traces of gluten. However, we can consider our products harmless from this point of view.

The fragrances used in our products, where present, are selected for their pleasant scent but also for their tolerability.

Most fragrances contain allergic substances, which are called allergens: if present, it is compulsory to state this on the label, even if the percentage contained is minimal. Where possible, we tend to use fragrances which do not contain allergens and which should therefore give rise to fewer problems. The fragrance, where present, is indicated in the list of ingredients as PARFUM or FRAGRANCE.

The term "natural product" has no legislative value and is normally used to indicate a series of products distributed via specific product chains (e.g. herbal) with a strong botanic "connotation" and a focus on the plant origin of the active ingredients. Our products contain groundbreaking and outstanding quality active ingredients, with naturally occurring biotechnology and synthesis, researched in order to optimize product performance and to ensure the best possible result.

Eyeshadow no. 147 (previously 41) is a highly pigmented purple, that is difficult to find in ranges offered by other make up companies, which usually offer a very similar, but less intense shade. The particular brightness of this colour is due to the type of colourant used, which tends to slightly stain the skin: for this reason we advise first applying a neutral colour base – such as our Eye Base Primer – or an eyeshadow corrector and gently removing the make up from the eyes with a bi-phase product.

Furthermore, the colour purple is, by its very nature, the one that is most likely to cause a mild irritant reaction to the eyelid in particularly sensitive people (this applies to all purples, even those from other brands); this reaction usually disappears when you stop using the product. The sensation can be more obvious when you are applying the colour, creating the impression that the redness is due to a skin reaction rather than applying the colour.

EC Directives establish that if the stability of a cosmetic product exceeds 30 months, it is not mandatory to give an expiration date: this applies to KIKO products. However it is necessary to indicate the PAO (Period After Opening), or the product duration – expressed in months –after opening the packaging. This indication is present on all our products with the exception of single use doses and vacuum packed products, as set out by law.

KIKO products are sold exclusively in our single-brand stores and on the kikocosmetics' websites. Both are clearly identified by the "KIKO MILANO" sign, which is a guarantee of quality, innovation and safety for all cosmetics products offered.